Aloha ... our last night in Mississippi ...

Joe, Lizzie, Laurie and Paul

After many unexpected delays, we crashed a luau in the delta before finally leaving our beloved state.  (It was hot outside, y'all!)

We currently reside in Richmond, Virginia.  We miss Oxford, Indianola, Lake Washington, Greenwood, family and our friends.  I will continue to post news and information concerning Mississippi on this blog from time to time.  Cheers, until we meet again, Magnolia State!

When I came up from the South

I felt so down in the mouth

Then I took one look at you

And thought about Dixie skies of blue

I thought about sweet magnolias too

I never missed a cotton bowl

I like my juleps a trifle tall

Yes sir, I'm strictly from Dixie

- Ella Fitzgerald

The beat goes on ... Jason Heavner is the new Oxford Maker's Market coordinator ...

Jason Heavner has picked up the Oxford Maker's Market flag after I had to put it down because sadly, I'm leaving Oxford, tomorrow!  You may have seen Jason on the cover of the Oxford Living section of The Oxford Eagle during Green Week back in April, 2010.  Jason is an amazing creator of art.  He works in many media, but is popularly known for his folksy crosses.

I just got this email from Jason about the next Maker's Market.  Rock on, Maker's Market - I will miss you the most!

Attention Makers Market Artists and friends,



We have been invited by the Yockna(patwpha) Bottoms Farm to participate in Patawpha Fest 2010. This is going to be a great event with tons of live bands, a farmer's market, crawfish boil, and available camping. There are no seller fees, but you are asked to make a donation to the farm, if possible. If you are interested in selling, please bring your own table, if you have one. They have a few tables we can use, and obviously, we can share space on our tables. Please, come enjoy the food, music, community, and most importantly, supporting a great cause... and bring a tent for camping out! Sounds like a mini Woodstock!

 Requirements to sell: - Set up is anytime before 1:00p.m. for the market, which is kick off time. You can drive your vehicle to the setup location, but they ask that all cars be moved before 1:00p.m.. We will sell until whenever, All spaces for sellers are first come first serve. When you arrive to claim your spot, please have all of your merchandise with you and begin setting up immediately. If you abandon your spot during setup, the Maker’s Market committee reserves the right to move any tables/chairs/items left only to reserve a spot. - Bring your own table, chairs, and table cloth, and if you want shade, you will need a canopy. Most artists bring 6 ft tables that collapse and are easy to carry. Card tables also work well. - Please bring your own screens, easels or other setup for displaying wall art. If the seller is under the age of 18, he/she must be accompanied by an adult. - Sellers must bring their own cash to make change for sales. Mississippi sales tax .07% must be submitted to David Molina before the end of market.
 Let me, jasonheavner@yahoo.com, know if you have more questions, you may call me too - 662-202-4145.


 If you choose to sell or perform with the Oxford Maker’s Market you get a free page on our website! http://www.oxfordmakersmarket.com Please email David Molina a photo for your profile pic, photos of your work and your name, your company’s name, your website, your location and the type of artwork that you create with a brief statement about yourself and your work. David’s email is dmmolina@gmail.com. Also please check out David’s web page on the Oxford Maker’s Market site, to get an idea of what your page will look like: http://www.oxfordmakersmarket.com/artist/4

- Jason Heavner



The Oxford Maker's Market http://www.oxfordmakersmarket.com/

Word on the street in Mississippi - say goodbye to Gulf shrimp and oysters

As the oil continues to snake it's way all over the Gulf, restaurants in Mississippi prepare to order their regular seafood from anywhere other than the Gulf.  At a restaurant in Greenwood, MS, I asked the chef if she would continue to serve her regular catch from the Gulf.  She answered that I can say goodbye to Gulf shrimp and oysters, and to thank goodness for pasteurized crab meat.  Fish caught lower down in the Gulf will still be served. 

Issues of the depletion of our world's seafood have plagued my mind, ever since I read this National Geographic article - Seafood May Be Gone by 2048.  We must continue to support the people of the Gulf, even if we cannot purchase their seafood.  It reminds me once again, to always ask where my seafood was farmed or caught.  I only purchase U.S. farm-raised catfish, when I buy seafood at the grocery store.  At least I know I am supporting U.S. farmers and that my fish wasn't raised in a sewer somewhere without regulations. 

Support Oxford businesses that are helping fight the oil on the coast! La Rousse Salon is sending all of their trimmings to help soak up the oil!

La Rousse Salon & Spa has been my favorite salon in Oxford.  On my last visit to La Rousse, my stylist, Debbie, told me that La Rousse is collecting all of the leftover hair that ends up on the floor at the salon and sending it to the coast.  They've collected big trash bags full of hair - and this hair will be put inside silk stockings that will float along the coastline and absorb oil.  Apparently the hair really soaks up the oil - I hope this will help attract the oil, and keep it away from other animals.

It's so important to keep these efforts moving!  Support local businesses and groups who are collecting products to help clean up the Gulf.  The University of Mississippi had a collection last week for stockings and rubber gloves.  One thing to consider when purchasing these badly needed products:  purchase them FROM small businesses.  Let's keep everyone above water by saving the Gulf with products sold at local, small businesses.  For instance, you can get 10 pairs of rubber gloves (the ones used for dishwashing are preferred to the medical kind) at Big Star in Oxford for less than $15.

Square Books partners with OLHS to help raise money - please pre-order your books!

From Hattie Alton of the Oxford Lafayette Humane Society:

We are very pleased to tell you about a wonderful opportunity that's come our way-a partnership with Square Books to raise important funds for Oxford- Lafayette Humane Society. A great new novel about dogs, A Dog's Purpose, is coming out July 6, 2010. Between then and now, Square Books is accepting orders for the book, "pre- sales" as they are called. For every pre-sale of A Dog's Purpose, Square Books will donate 10% of the cover price to Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society. That's around $ 2.20 for every pre-sale. It could add up quickly, providing us badly needed funds! Best yet, it is money we make without having to spend money-there's no overhead cost to us.

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This novel is being lauded by some of the nation's top animal advocates. More about that below, but first, here are the details of the program. To support this effort, all you need to do is buy one or more copies of A Dog's Purpose by going to the book store's website

http://www.squarebooks.com/book/9780765326263

or by phoning in your order at 662- 236-2262, or by visiting the store to place your order at 160 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655 Between now and July 1, 2010, Square Books will donate 10% of the cover price to Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society.Be sure to tell them you want the money to go to Oxford- Lafayette County Humane Society, as they are donating to two charities in this program. It's that easy!

$22.95

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A Dog's Purpose is written by the NY Times Bestselling Author and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist W. Bruce Cameron. Read more about the author at www.adogspurpose.com . Dr. Marty Becker, Resident Vet "Good Morning America," and "The Dr. Oz Show" says, "Anyone who has ever loved a dog needs to read this wise, touching, often hilarious book." The book follows the life of a dog who lives not one but multiple lives, from feral animal to hoarded dog to beloved pet to rescue canine. Eventually the dog understands that life is more than just living, it is about doing something. There must be a reason why he keeps being reborn, and he believes he needs to discover that reason-his purpose. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all members of the family, and is certain to be a favorite of animal lovers everywhere. Iris M. Dart, author of Beaches, says, "This book is a classic." Please consider participating in this program! It's a great way to help Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society pursue our important work.

Sincerely,


OLHS
Oxford Lafayette Humane Society

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email: info@oxfordpets.com
phone: 662-236-7631
web: http://www.oxfordpets.com
Pre-order online or by phone BEFORE JULY 1, 2010. For more information visit adogspurpose.com or contact Publicist Karen Lovell at karen.lovell@tor.com.

Donate your stuff to the Oxford Film Fest's yard sale - Melanie Addington is collecting donations now until the yard sale on May 22nd at the Oxford Conference Center!

I am in the process of packing up our apartment to move (so sad to be leaving Oxford!)  and I found all sorts of things I didn't need - so I donated them to the Oxford Film Fest's yard sale.  This is a really great opportunity to get rid of stuff AND to help the Oxford Film Fest stay afloat!  If you don't have anything to donate, be sure to attend the yard sale on May 22nd and see what they are selling!

Help the Oxford Film Festival raise funds by participating in the May 22nd yard sale at the Oxford Conference Center. The festival is looking for your donations of gently used items that we can sell as part of our event. If you are interested in donating, please contact Melanie Addington at melanie@oxfordfilmfest.com or 877-560-3456.

Happy Graduation from Ole Miss!

Joe and Lizzie in the Grove after Ole Miss Law graduation, May 2010

Prof. Tucker Carrington, Joe Oglesby, Prof. Desiree Hensley and Lizzie Oglesby - Tucker and Desiree are two of my favorite Oxford people.  They both run two very important programs in Oxford.  Tucker is the director of the Mississippi Innocence Project and Desiree is the director of the Civil Legal Clinic and Supervising Professor of the Low-Income Housing Section.  Both work very hard to assist people who are in serious need of help, and who may not be able to afford a lawyer. 

Joe Oglesby with Prof Joanne Gabrynowicz - Joanne is the director of the National Center for Remote Sensing, Air and Space Law and Research Professor of Law.  Joann's resume is really amazing - you can read more about her on the National Center for Remote Sensing Air and Space Law website.  What I deeply admire about Joanne is her love of culture and her passion for communication with students and professors from other nations, like China.  She is building powerful bridges of communication that are priceless now and vital for the future of space law.

Lizzie O. will be selling art and gifts made from recycled and repurposed materials at Taylorpalooza, Saturday night 5-8pm

BP Oil Spill in the Gulf - What You Can Do to Help in Oxford, Mississippi

Ole Miss Students for a Green Campus, is holding a supply drive to collect supplies needed to protect and clean up the fragile Mississippi and Louisiana coastline from the recent Gulf oil spill. Supplies will be collected at the Quad entrance to the JD Williams Library this Monday through Thursday, May 3rd-6th from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. You may also bring supplies to the Office of the Dean of Students, Union 422, from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Supplies needed are rubber gloves and nylon pantyhose that will be used to construct oil booms to contain and absorb the oil. Please contact Students for a Green Campus at sgc.olemiss@gmail.com  for details.